Counter-recoil mechanism for firearms



April 13, 1965 c. D. M KIM COUNTER-RECOIL MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed Dec. 3, 1963 W w m Rk 5 T. n 7 NM 0 m W r M r T! m Wm m m w C 4 N La M I H 2 3 2 I la mw m M 2 T m/ M 1/ 7 1/ H M United States Patent 3,177,7 71 COUNTER-REQOIL MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Carrol D. McKim, 791 34th Ave., San Francisco, Calif Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,628

7 Claims. (Cl. 89-14) The present invention relates to a recoil mechanism for firearms, and pertains more particularly to such a mechanism which is of extremely light weight and simple construction.

In the past, numerous attempts have been made to provide a mechanism which would reduce the recoil, and also the muzzle blast and flash, incidental to the firing of a high power rifle. Some of such prior devices have been quite heavy and cumbersome, and some thereof involve moving parts, which are subject to rapid deterioration or damage by the high velocity, hot gases discharged from the muzzle upon the firing of a firearm upon which such a device is mounted. Others thereof have provided less than satisfactory recoil reduction, while many of them have actually added to the noise etiect on the shooter, being worse than with the bare muzzle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified muzzle-mounted counter-recoil mechanism for firearms.

Another object is to provide a light weight muzzle mounted counter-recoil and noise reducing mechanism for firearms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a muzzle mounted counter-recoil mechanism comprising a tubular casing having a plurality of open end smaller tubes mounted transversely therein, each of the transverse tubes having an opening diametrically therethrough of a size, and so located, as to permit a bullet fired from the rifle barrel upon which the mechanism is mounted to pass through these holes, whereby propellant gases following such bullet expand throughout the interior of the casing to thereby exert a forwardly directed force on the opposite end of the casing and on the transverse tubes in a direction opposite to that of the recoil caused by the firing of the projectile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a muzzle mounted counter-recoil and noise reducing mechanism for firearms wherein a tubular casing is mounted in axially parallel relation on the muzzle end of a gun barrel, a plurality of smaller tubes being mounted transversely within the casing and with their axes intersecting the bore axis of a gun barrel upon which the mechanism is mounted, holes being provided in the transverse tubes to permit a bullet to pass therethrongh, a plurality of the transverse tubes communicating at their ends with the atmosphere, whereby the gases propelling a bullet fired from such gun barrel and passing through the casing and through the holes in the transverse tubes exert a counter-recoil force on the mechanism, and escape to the atmosphere through some or all of the tubes and the outer end of the casing after expansion into the tubular casing, thereby also greatly reducing the muzzle blast.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of counterrecoil mechanism embodying the invention, a portion of the muzzle end'of a rifle barrel upon which the mechanism is mounted being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, diametrical, sectional view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the muzzle end portion of the gun barrel also being shown sectionally.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view generally similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modified form of the invention.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a muzzle mounted counter-recoil mechanism A, having a cylindrical casing 10 of suitable metal such as, for example,

a high strength aluminum alloy or steel tubing. End discs 11 and 12 are fitted one in each end of the casing 10, and are stronglyand fixedly secured in place therein in any suitable manner, as by welding, or, in the case of brass or steel, silver soldering. The inner end disc 11 is provided with a threaded hole 13 therethrough of a size to permit the threaded muzzle end portion 14a of a gun barrel 14 to be screwed firmly and co-axially therein. The disc 12 in the other end of the casing tube 10 has a hole 17 therethrough axially aligned with the threaded hole 13, and of a diameter to permit a projectile, not shown, fired from the gun barrel 14, to pass theretlirough without contact with the surrounding disc 12.

A plurality of tubes 18 of an external diameter substantially smaller than the casing tube 10, but larger than the bore 19 of the gun barrel 14, are mounted transversely of the casing tube 10 with their axes substantially intersecting the common ams of the barrel bore 19 and the holes 13 and 17 when the mechanism A is mounted on a gun barrel 14 as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the transverse tubes 18 is fitted into a pair of holes 22 and 23 provided in opposite sides of the casing tube 10, and has a pair of co-axial holes 20 and 21 diametrically therethrough. The tubes 18 are so positioned that the axes of all of the holes 20 and 21 therethrough are coincident with each other and with the common axis of'the holes 13 and 17 in the end discs 11 and 12 respectively. Each of the transverse tube holes 20 and 21 is of diameter slightly larger than the bore 19 of a gun barrel 14 for which the counter-recoil mechanism A is intended, so as to permit a bullet fired from the gun barrel to pass centrally therethrough without contacting any of the tubes 18.

While the drawings show the tubes 18 arranged with their axes in a common plane, and diametrically of the casing tube 10, which may be preferable in some instances, it is obvious, however, that this arrangement can 16 are afiixed in sealing relation in the ends of the rearmost tube 18, since it has been found'that the sound effect of the report on the shooter isgreatly reduced when this first tube is so closed oif, while the recoil reduction is' not adversely affected by such closing.

' The operation of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is as follows: When a projectile (not shown) is fired from a gun barrel 14 upon which a mechanism'A embodying the invention is mounted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projectile passes successively through the holes 20 and 21 in all of the transverse tubes 18, and through the hole 17 in the forward disc 12 Without contacting any portion of the mechanism A. Since all of the holes through which the projectile thus passes are concentric with the cross sectional configuration of such projectile, no force is exerted on the projectile by such passage which would tend to divert it from its normal trajectory. The propellant gases from the explosion which propel the projectile enter the casing 10, where they immediately expand, and in their violent forward travel they encounter the transverse tubes 18 and the forward end disc 12, exerting a powerful forwardly directed force thereon which tends to nullify the usual recoil resulting from the firing of a high power rifle.

Also, these expanding gases build up a tremendous pressure within the casing 10, and this pressure forces the gases into each of the tubes 18 through the holes 213 and 21 therein, and also out the end hole 17. As the gases Patented Apr. 13, 1965'- enter the tubes 18 through the holes 20 and 21 from opposite sides, the shock waves of the oppositely directed incoming gases tend to cancel each other out, whlle the gases, issuing from the several orifices provided by the open ends of the tubes 18 and the end opening 17 produce, in effect, a number of small explosions, the sharpness and intensity of which is greatly reduced by the expansion of the gases within the casing 10.

In addition to a reduction of recoil and report noise, the present invention results in a marked reduction in muzzle flash, since the propellant gases are trapped momentarily within the casing 10, and even this momentary delay permits at least some of the burning particles of the propellant charge to be consumed in the casing 10. V While the casing is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being mounted co-axially of the bore 19 of a rifle barrel 14 upon which the mechanism A is mounted, and this arrangement is presently preferred, particularly for use with telescopic sights, this arrangement is not essential to the invention and the holes in the end discs 11 and 12, and the holes 21 and 22 in the tubes 18 may be located with their common axis adjacent the upper side of the casing 10 as shown in FIG. 3, which arrangement may be preferable where ordinary or iron sights are employed.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and corresponding parts thereof are designated by the same reference numerals as those employed in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the prime added thereto. Aside from the lateral offsetting of the common axis of the holes 13', 17, 20' and 21 from the axis of the casing 10, and the elongation of the transverse tubes 18 to provide the extensions 18'a, the modified form A of FIG. 3 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Its operation will, therefore, be obvious to one having an understanding of the structure and operation of the form A of FIGS. 1 and 2, and will not, therefore, be described in further detail herein.

The invention provides a simple, light weight, inexpensive and highly effective counter-recoil mechanism for firearms, with little or no adverse effect on the trajectory of a projectile fired from a firearm, such as a rifle, upon which the invention is mounted, and with the additional advantage of reducing both report noise and muzzle flash.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred emhodiment of the present invention and one modified form thereof, it will be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims,

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

1. A counter-recoil mechanism for a rifle, comprising:

(a) a tubular casing having an interior diameter several times that of the bore of a rifle upon which it is to be mounted,

(b) the outer end of the casing being closed except for an opening therein of a diameter slightly greater than the bore of such rifle,

(c) a plurality of tubes of an external diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the casing and larger than the bore of such barrel mounted transversely of the casing, each transverse tube having aligned holes in opposite walls thereof diametrically therethrough, the latter holes being of slightly larger diameter than the bore of such barrel,

(d) the transverse tubes being mounted with the holes diametrically therethrough co-axial with each other and with the hole in the outer end of the casing,

(e) the ends of some of the transverse tubes being open to the atmosphere exteriorly of the casing,

(1) means for mounting the casing co-extensively on the muzzle end of a rifle barrel with the opening in the outer end of the casing and the holes diametrically through the transverse tubes co-axial with the bore of such barrel, and with the inner end of the casing sealed to such barrel.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the transverse tube nearest the muzzle end of the casing are sealed off and the ends of the remaining transverse tubes are open to the atmosphere.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein each transverse tube is fitted into a pair of holes provided therefor in the casing, and is fixedly secured therein.

4. A counter-recoil mechanism for a rifle, comprising:

(a) a tubular casing having an interior diameter a plurality of times that of the bore of a rifle upon which it is to be mounted,

(b) each end of the casing being closed except for an opening therein of a diameter greater than the bore of such rifle, the openings in the casing ends being co-axial,

(c) the opening in the inner end of the casing being threaded for screwing co-axially onto the correspondingly threaded muzzle of a rifle barrel,

(d) a plurality of tubes of an external diameter,

smaller than the internal-diameter of the casing and larger than the bore of such barrel, and mounted transversely of the casing, each transverse tube having aligned holes in opposite walls thereof diametrically therethrough, the holes diametrically of the transverse tubes being of slightly larger diameter than the bore of such barrel, 7

(e) the transverse tubes being mounted with the holes diametrically therethrough co-axial with each other and with the openings in the ends of the casing.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the ends of the transverse tubes terminate substantially flush with the outer surface of the casing.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the transverse tubes are of a length to project radially beyond the casing.

7. A counter-recoil mechanism for a rifle, comprising:

(a) an elongated casing having an interior diameter a plurality of times that of the bore of a rifle upon which it is to be mounted, and having aligned openings in opposite ends thereof of a diameter greater than the bore of such rifle,

(b) a plurality of tubes of an external diameter substantially smaller than the casing and larger than the bore of such barrel mounted transversely across the interior of the casing, each transverse tube having a hole diametrically therethrough of slightly greater diameter than the bore of such barrel,

(0) the transverse tubes being mounted with the holes diametrically therethrough aligned with each other and with the openings in the ends of the casing,

(d) and means for mounting the mechanism on the muzzle of a rifle barrel with the openings in the casing ends and the holes diametrically through the transverse tubes aligned with the bore of such barrel to permit a projectile fired through said bore to pass freely through said mechanism.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,121 11/48 Cutts 89--l4.3

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. FRED C. MATTERN, IR., Examiner. 

1. A COUNTER-RECOIL MECHANISM FOR A RIFLE, COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR CASING HAVING AN INTERIOR DIAMETER SEVERAL TIMES THAT OF THE BORE OF A RIFLE UPON WHICH IT IS TO BE MOUNTED, (B) THE OUTER END OF THE CASING BEING CLOSED EXCEPT FOR AN OPENING THEREIN OF A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE BORE OF SUCH RIFLE, (C) A PLURALITY OF TUBES OF AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE CASING AND LARGER THAN THE BORE OF SUCH BARREL MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY OF THE CASING, EACH TRANSVERSE TUBE HAVING ALIGNED HOLES IN OPPOSITE WALLS THEREOF DIAMETRICALLY THERETHROUGH, THE LATTER HOLES BEING OF SLIGHTLY LARGER DIAMETER THAN THE BORE OF SUCH BARREL, (D) THE TRANSVERSE TUBES BEING MOUNTED WITH THE HOLES DIAMETRICALLY THERETHROUGH CO-AXIAL WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE HOLE IN THE OUTER END OF THE CASING, (E) THE ENDS OF SOME OF THE TRANSVERSE TUBES BEING 